A trainee in the ambulance service in Finnmark reported that a manager tried to enter her hotel room during a course, according to multiple reports. The trainee said the manager told her not to tell anyone and that he did not regret making advances. She filed a whistleblowing report, but it was not followed up, and she no longer works in the service.
NRK has reviewed 26 written whistleblowing reports from the ambulance service in Finnmark over the past ten years, according to multiple reports. Most were sent to Finnmarkssykehuset; some were sent to the Labour Inspection Authority or the County Governor of Troms and Finnmark. Several reports are against managers, and nearly half concern sexual harassment. A temporary ambulance worker named 'Ella' felt pressured into sex with her manager and subsequently received fewer shifts. Her whistleblowing did not lead to a resolution, and she no longer works in the service. Finnmarkssykehuset will not comment on Ella's case beyond stating it was handled according to laws and regulations. The manager in Ella's case believes she was complicit in what happened between them.
When I opened, it was him standing there wanting to come in.
Other reports describe derogatory views of women and comments such as wanting to 'shame-punish' someone, according to multiple reports. A manager called trainees 'party girls'. A trainee received threatening messages when she became pregnant by a colleague 20 years older. A manager said women were too weak for the job and became an economic burden when they had children. A manager threatened to withhold a planned extra ambulance if sick leave did not decrease. A manager made offensive and discriminatory comments about skin color, religion, and sexual orientation. According to NRK, a manager said: 'The unions have had power long enough, now the employer will take power back.' A manager threatened to deduct an employee's pay after a discussion about leave rules.
Systemic issues were also reported: employees were not required to take an exam in medication calculation, there were repeated violations of rest period rules, and unfair distribution of benefits such as overtime and paid leave, according to multiple reports. NRK does not know how all reports were handled or if they were granted whistleblower status, and the total number of reports in the ambulance service in Finnmark is unknown.
The next day he said I must not tell anyone, but that he did not regret making advances on me.
CEO of Finnmarkssykehuset, Ole Hope, has repeatedly stated that reports of sexual harassment in the ambulance service did not reach top management, according to multiple reports. However, NRK's documents show that top management was involved in handling eight of eleven sexual harassment reports. HR manager Kenneth Grav was aware of four reports, clinic manager for prehospital services Trond Carlsson was aware of two, and former clinic manager Jørgen Nilsen was aware of two. Nilsen has not wished to comment; Carlsson and Grav have referred to Finnmarkssykehuset. Hope said: 'We have requested an external review of these cases. If we have made mistakes, we are open to reviewing the cases again.' Communications manager Eirik Palm wrote that even if clinic and HR managers were involved, other management is only informed if there are special circumstances, and mainly at an overarching level.
Previously, the health trust stated they had only handled one case of sexual harassment in the period 2015–2025, according to multiple reports. The Equality and Anti-Discrimination Ombud contacted the hospital after reading about Ella's case and requested documentation on preventive measures. Lars Kolberg, professional director for working life at the Ombud, said: 'It looks like a serious case. Then we must try to find out what routines exist and what preventive work the hospital is doing.' Finnmarkssykehuset confirmed they did not consult the police regarding any reports from 2015 to 2025. HR manager Kenneth Grav wrote that police reporting was considered in some cases but deemed not necessary or appropriate based on the factual basis. According to NRK, lawyer and whistleblowing expert Birthe Maria Eriksen said the employer should have contacted the police in such a serious case.
The unions have had power long enough, now the employer will take power back.
The Centre Party (Sp) now supports the Green Party (MDG)'s parliamentary proposal for a public inquiry into Finnmarksykehuset, according to multiple reports. The proposal will be considered in Parliament in May and already has support from the Progress Party (Frp). The parties demand that the Health Minister initiate the inquiry, not the hospital itself. Kjersti Toppe (Sp), leader of the health committee, said: 'It is about regaining trust.' SV and KrF have not yet decided; Rødt and Høyre have not responded; Venstre trusts the hospital to clean up itself but demands a report from the Health Minister. Health Minister Jan Christian Vestre (Ap) has rejected the proposal, saying he trusts the cleanup work initiated by Finnmarkssykehuset. Vestre said: 'It should be safe to go to work in Norway. And it should also be safe to report unwanted behavior and unwanted incidents.'
Finnmarkssykehuset held a meeting with female ambulance employees where it emerged there may be far more incidents than previously reported, according to multiple reports. The hospital stated in a press release: 'Information from the network meeting suggests there may be far more incidents than previously reported.' MDG representatives Siren Jensen and Marius Dalin proposed appointing an external investigation commission for Finnmarkssykehuset, according to major media. The board of Finnmarkssykehuset is shocked by the cases of sexual harassment and questions the competence of those handling reports, according to major media.
It looks like a serious case. Then we must try to find out what routines exist and what preventive work the hospital is doing.
In such a serious case, the employer should have contacted the police.
It is about regaining trust.
We take the situation very seriously.
Information from the network meeting suggests there may be far more incidents than previously reported. CEO Ole Hope takes what the employees conveyed at the meeting very seriously.